Best 15 Public Golf Courses in Illinois

Like the other 49 states, Illinois has hundreds of golf courses sprinkled throughout the state. However, they are not all located in the major cities. Today, we will show you the best public golf courses in Illinois.

Regardless of where you live or visiting, you should have no problems finding a great course to play on, whether you’re a beginner in golf or you’ve been playing for years.

The courses are small and large and made out of many different types of grass, but they all have one thing in common:

They are there to accommodate your desire to play this magnificent sport, and they work hard to provide you with an experience you won’t forget. Below are just a few of those courses.

Coyote Creek Golf Club (Bartonville)

Built-in 2001, this 18-hole golf course is open from March 1 to October 31 and has beautiful bent grass covering both the fairways and the greens.

It was voted one of the top courses in Illinois in 2015 by Golf Advisor, and it provides you with a putting green, practice hole, and of course, a driving range.

In addition to having access to locker rooms and a fabulous clubhouse, the course offers meeting and banquet facilities when you need them. So, it is making this a very versatile golf course indeed.

Golf Course Information:

The Den at Fox Creek Golf Club (Bloomington)

Built-in 1997 and designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, this 18-hole golf course has bent grass on the fairways and the greens, and it is open all year long, which is unusual for this part of the country.

Golf Advisor voted it one of the best golf courses in Illinois in 2016. It offers both a putting green and a driving range for your convenience.

You can enjoy some cool drinks at the 19th hole, and the course is challenging enough to pique anyone’s interests, even those who consider themselves experts at the game.

It’s a lovely course that can accommodate beginners as well.

Golf Course Information:

Fairlakes Golf Course (Secor)

Fairlakes Golf Course (Secor) IL, USA

With more than 5,200 yards of playing area, this 18-hole golf course is perfect for beginners and more experienced players.

Golfers especially love the friendliness of the place and the value they feel they get every time they play there. It is open from March 1 to November 13 and has been around since 1988.

You can walk the green instead of using a cart if you like, and you can even take some tips from a golfing pro whenever you’re there.

Whether you want to play casually or improve your skills, it is easy to do so at Fairlakes. You can rent carts, pull carts, and even clubs if you don’t have any of your own, making it much easier on you every time.

Golf Course Information:

Fond du Lac Golf Course (East Peoria)

With nine holes and more than 1,200 yards of playing opportunity, this is an excellent course for people who aren’t that experienced with their golf game.

It’s a relatively easy course to play on. However, experienced golfers can still enjoy it if they want a relaxing and non-competitive time on the green. 

They don’t have a driving range, but they do have a teaching pro, and they offer lessons for anyone who wants to improve their golfing skills.

They’re open from March 1 to November 1, and they rent carts, pull carts, and even clubs if you have none of your own.

Although it built the course in 1963, they do a great job maintaining it, making it a comfortable and attractive way to play golf.

Golf Course Information:

Hazy Hills Golf Course (Hudson)

This nine-hole golf course is perfect for beginners. Still, it will accommodate more experienced players who want to play casually and have some fun.

Open from March 15 to November 15; the course is excellent even though since 1975.

You can rent carts and even clubs if you like while you’re there, and it also has a putting green in case you’d like to take a few practice shots before starting to play.

It is a beautiful golf course that isn’t well-known but should put a smile on the faces of the golfers who play there.

Golf Course Information:

Hillcrest Golf Course (Washington)

Open year-round and built-in 1952, the Hillcrest Golf Course has 18 holes and roughly 3,100 yards of golfing opportunity.

You can rent carts, pull carts, and even clubs if you need them, and the driving range makes for a great and easy way to practice your skills or relax and have a little fun.

The course has tall trees and lots of greenery, and it can accommodate you whether you’re a beginner or right up there with the experts.

This executive-style golf course is open 12 months a year. So you make it a great place to be if you’re a golfing fanatic or simply someone who enjoys golf as a relaxation tool.

Golf Course Information:

Kaufman Park Golf Course (Eureka)

Kaufman Park Golf Course is a nine-hole public golf course with more than 2,700 yards of playing areas.

 It opens on March 1 and closes on November 15, providing players with a long time to indulge their passion. Players especially love the course layout, the value it provides, and the friendliness of the staff.

You can rent carts and clubs if you like, and although there is no putting green or driving range, it is still a perfect way to spend the day improving your golf game. If you’re a beginner golfer, this type is ideal because it is challenging but not too difficult for you.

Golf Course Information:

Kellogg Golf Course (Peoria)

Open from March 1 to November 30, this 18-hole golf course offers something for everyone, including a driving range and putting green.

You can rent carts and pull-carts from them if you like, and even clubs if you don’t have any of your own. 

The fairways and greens cover with bent grass for both beauty and durability, and if you need a pro to help you improve your golf game, they have one on-staff who can help you.

You can have a snack or two after your game is over, and if you decide to walk the course instead of using the cart, you can do so any time. Any way you choose to play the game, the end will always put a smile on your face.

Golf Course Information:

Lick Creek Golf Course (Pekin)

With 18 holes and nearly 7,000 yards of play opportunities, this golf course was built in 1976 and designed by Larry Packard.

If you don’t have clubs of your own, do not worry because they can rent some to you and if you need some practice or extra lessons ahead of your next game. The course provides you with both a teaching pro and a separate school to hone your skills quickly. It is open from April 1 to November 15 and has a gorgeous view.

It can also accommodate both beginning players and those who have played for years, making it perfect for all golfing enthusiasts.

Golf Course Information:

Madison Golf Course (Peoria)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCtbaEPXUpM&pp=ygUWTWFkaXNvbiBHb2xmIENvdXJzZSBJTA%3D%3D

This 18-hole golf course has 5,476 yards of playing fun. Built in 1909 and designed by Tom Bendelow, the Madison Golf Course has bluegrass covering the fairways and bent grass on the greens.

It is also open all year long, making this a great facility to be a part of if your goal is to play the most amount of golf each year.

Although there is no driving range, you have access to a putting green, a pitching/chipping area, and a bunker.

It covers mature trees and bright green; this course is well-maintained 24/7 and is always a joy to play on. It also consistently gives 4- and 5-star ratings to its customers.

Golf Course Information:

Newman Golf Course (Peoria)

With over 6,800 yards of playing room and 18 holes, this golf course is spectacular with its full-grown trees, lush greenery, and ponds that sometimes have sprinklers in them.

It is open from March 1 to December 1 and since 1920. However, they do such a great job of maintaining it; it still looks phenomenal.

Beautiful bluegrass covers the fairways while the greens cover with bentgrass, so the course is easy to play on.

Suppose you look at reviews from real-life customers. In that case, most give them either “excellent” or “good” in almost every category, which tells you all you need to know about the course.

Golf Course Information:

Parkview Golf Course (Pekin)

This 18-hole course is a public/municipal course that boats over 6,000 yards of golfing opportunity.

Extremely neat and well-maintained, the course is open all year long and was built in 1920, even though it still looks great today.

You get a putting green but no driving range. Between the on-staff pro and the professional lessons, you can take advantage of these things and significantly improve your game.

It’s great for both locals and visitors. And the golf course accommodates both inexperienced golfers and those golfers who are playing for years. Players especially love the elevation changes and the bunkers. You’ll find the course challenging enough without being too difficult, regardless of your experience level.

Golf Course Information:

Quail Meadows Golf Course (Washington)

This 18-hole golf course provides you with more than 6,900 yards of opportunity and is open from March 15 to October 31 each year.

It has bluegrass covering the fairways and bent grass on the greens, and even though it since 1920, it is very well-maintained and in excellent condition. 

You get access to a driving range, a putting green, and even a golf simulator, which means you have everything you need to improve your game. 

They even provide indoor practice areas and an academy to help improve your skills. And it gave you all the tools you need to improve your golfing skills and become a much better player.

Golf Course Information:

Sunset Hills Country Club – Executive Course (Pekin)

This nine-hole golf course was built in 1964 and is open all year long. It consists of a driving range and putting green; you can even rent carts and clubs from them if you’re interested.

Players think the course is challenging enough to be exciting but not too tricky, and they love the layout and overall design. 

Most players give this course either “excellent” or “good” ratings in most areas, which means you can’t go wrong when choosing to play here.

Even more advanced players can enjoy this course because it truly offers something for everyone.

Golf Course Information:

Weaver Ridge Golf Club (Peoria)

It is an 18-hole golf course with 7,000 yards of playing opportunity, and it was built in 1997 and designed by Dana Fry and Dr. Michael Hurdzan.

Bentgrass covers the fairways and the greens, and you get access to a driving range and a putting garden to help you get more prepared for every outing on the playground. With crystal-clear water, bright green grass, and lots of fully grown trees, this course is just as aesthetically appealing as it is accommodating.

Whether you’re just learning this great sport or you’ve been playing for years. You can quickly get a lot out of every one of your outings to the facility because this is one golf course that won’t disappoint.

Golf Course Information:

Conclusion

Illinois has hundreds of golf courses throughout the state. Even though most of them are only open about half the year, that still leaves you plenty of opportunities to enjoy your obsession and improve your skills.

Suppose you’re beginning to play golf. In that case, you can find many nine-hole courses and facilities with pros on staff so you can learn the game better. More experienced players can still enjoy more challenging trials.

In other words, the golfing facilities in this part of the country genuinely offer something for everyone.

Other Related Articles: